Ahoi Ashtami

Ahoi Ashtami is a famous Hindu religion and auspicious festival celebrated by all the Hindu women. On this auspicious day women observe fast for the wellbeing of their children. Ahoi Ashtami is also known as Ahoi Aathe

Ahoi Ashtami is celebrated on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. Just about 8 days before Diwali on Krishna Paksha Ashtami. According to the Purnima calendar , which is followed in North India, it falls during the month of Kartik and according to the Amanta calendar , which is followed in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other southern states, it falls during the month of Ashvin. However, it is just the name of the month which differs but the Ahoi Ashtami festival is celebrated on the same day all over the country.

The fasting and puja on Ahoi Ashtami are done on the same day on the eighth day of krishna paksha in kartik month. The festival is dedicated to Mata Ahoi or Goddess Ahoi, who is worshipped by mothers for the well-being and long life of their children. This day is also known as Ahoi Aathe because fasting for Ahoi Ashtami is done during Ashtami Tithi which is the eighth day of the lunar month. Goddess Lakshmi is only considered as Ahoi Mata.

Ahoi Ashtami 2023 date

According to the Hindu calendar, this festival is celebrated on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month and in the month of October or November, according to the Hindu calendar. Ahoi Ashtami 2023 will be celebrated on 5 November 2023 on Sunday.

Ahoi Ashtami 2024 date

Ahoi ashtami 2024 will be celebrated on 24th October 2024 on Thursday.

Ahoi Ashtami festival

Ahoi festival is a great festival of Hinduism celebrated in the form of a fast (vrat) which is kept by mothers for the well being of their children. This festival is also assumed to mark the beginning of Deepawali, the great festival of lights ( Goddess Lakshmi ). Ahoi mata is another form of Goddess Lakshmi only

 Mothers who are blessed with sons get up in the early morning, just like the Karwa Chauth Vrat, and put water in an earthen pot and worship Goddess Ahoi. Mothers don’t eat or drink anything the whole day. She remains in fast and in the evening, they offer Puja and Bhog to Mother Ahoi (food comprising Poori, Halwa, Chana etc) and break the fast after seeing the stars.

Ahoi Astami Ki katha

There is a great story behind the ahoi ashtami festival and vrat.

Once there was a wealthy couple who had 7 sons. On one unfortunate day, the lady of the house with her husband went to dig soil for some household work. They were digging soil in the forest but accidently cut a lion’s cub with her axe while digging.

The lion cub died instantly and the Lioness with great anger cursed the couple that they will Also have to live without their children and as a result, all the 7 sons of the couple died within a year.

After the death of their all sons then sadness and misery surrounded their house. One day a great saint was passing by their house. On seeing the distressing condition of the couple he suggested the couple perform remorseful acts in a remote area. The couple was desperate to get rid of the curse that they got from the lioness. So, they left their home and kept walking into the forest. They performed penance to ask for forgiveness but did not get any result to get rid of the curse.

Due to depression and tiredness, they decided to sacrifice their lives by not eating anything. After 6 days of fasting, they heard a divine voice which told them to worship Goddess Ahoi by keeping a fast on Ashtami. The couple got some relief and returned back to their home. They observed the fast and worshipped the Goddess Ahoi on the Ashtami of Kartik month as suggested. They were again blessed by 7 sons by Goddess Ahoi who is a form of Goddess Lakshmi itself.

Since then, mothers in North India keep this Vrat for the well being of their children.

When is Ahoi Ashtami Vrat celebrated?

According to the Hindu calendar, this great festival for sons is celebrated on the eighth day of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month and in the month of October or November, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Why do we celebrate Ahoi ashtami?

Ahoi festival is a great Hinduism festival celebrated every year on the eighth day of Krishna paksh in Kartik month, near to Diwali festival.

According to mythology, It is believed in Hinduism that women, who face miscarriage or have problems in conceiving, should perform the Ahoi Ashtami puja and vrat to get blessed with a baby. This day is also known as Krishnashtami and on this day the couples who wish to have children, must visit Mathura and take a holy dip in the ‘Radha Kunda’ on this particular day.

Ahoi ashtami puja Vidhi

Puja vidhi of Ahoi ashtami vrat is given below:

1. During Ahoi ashtami vrat, Women who wish to keep this fast should wake up early in the morning, take a holy bath and wear nice ,clean or new clothes.

2. After bathing , women have to take a sankalp (pledge) of observing Ahoi Ashtami Vrat in Kartik month Ashtami day for the well being of their children.Women wish to keep this fast have to remain without food and water whole day

3. Ahoi Ashtami Puja is performed during the evening.

4.  Women have to prepare satvik food like Puri, Sabzi, Halwa or kheer and Puda or Pua (a mixture of wheat flour, sugar or jaggery and water and then take a small quantity of this thick mixture and deep fry it).

5. First of all, one has to clean that area where the Puja is going to be performed. After cleaning the area. Women have to take a poster of Ahoi Mata and stick it on the wall or can keep a statue of goddess Ahoi as their wish and keep an earthen pot of clay filled with water and cover it with a lid.

6. Then , they have to Light a diya with desi Ghee, Offer Kumkum, Akshata, Flowers, Put some wheat seeds on a lid and offer some sweets to Goddess Ahoi.

7. In the northern area, women use a neck piece or garland of Ahoi made from silver which have many small round silver pearls. This silver garland or neck piece is known as Syau and women worship it with Milk, Roli and Akshata during the puja.

8. They recite Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha and after the puja, women wore this Silver Syau necklace  around their neck.

9. Women offer bhog prasad to Syau Mata and pray for the good health and well being of their children.

Aarti of Ahoi Mata

Jai Ahoi Mata, Jai Ahoi Mata ।

Tumko Nisdin Dhyavat Hari Vishnu Vidhata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Brahamni Rudrani Kamla Tu He Hai Jag Mata ।

Surya Chandrama Dhyavat Narad Rishi Gata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Mata Roop Niranjan Sukh Sampati Data ।

Jo Koi Tumko Dhyavat Nit Mangal Pata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Tu He Hai Pataal Basanti, Tu He Hai Sukh Data ।

Karma Prabhav

Prakashak Jagadhri Se Trata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Jis Ghar Tharo Vaas Wahi Mein Gunna Aata ।

Kar Na Sake Soi Kar Le Mann Nahi Ghabrata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Tum Bin Sukh Na Hovay Putra Na Koi Pata ।

Khan-Paan Ka Vaibhav Tum Bin Nahi Aata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Subh Gun Sundar Yukta Sheer Niddhi Jata ।

Ratan Chaturdarsha Toku Koi Nahi Pata ॥

॥ Jai Ahoi Mata..॥

Shri Ahoi Maa Ki Aarti Jo Koi Gata ।

Ur Umang Ati Upjay Paap Utar Jata ॥

Jai Ahoi Mata, Jai Ahoi Mata ।

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